Customer Reviews

The Rivals

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although I am hardly an authority on the theater, it does not take a genius to see that this production is something special. The acting is wonderful, the camera work is excellent (especially compared to most recordings of stage events) and the play itself is amazing. The performance was done in period costumes, just as it was when it was in 1775, and the language of the 1775 text is retained just as Sheridan wrote it. I have noticed nothing in this performance that detracts from Sheridan's original vision.

I can guarantee you will have a great time watching this; it is completely worth the money to have this gem.

While this is known as a Restoration comedy, the producer points out that it was written well after that period. Nevertheless, it has all the trappings of such: comedy of manners, the screen scenes, mistaken identities, love tangles. It is more a satire, not so much on life then but on Sheridan's own young life and the gossip surrounding it. What shows that it is post-Restoration is that there is in the play a psychological layer, which the producer milks maybe a bit much. I found Faulkland's angst tiring at times, and the bustly mannerisms of Julia a bit overdone. The father/son scenes are Absolutely excellent, and Mrs. Malaprop nicely delivered. The whole cast in fact does the play justice, with finesse and intelligence. It was filmed for TV onstage at the Bristol Old Vic before a live audience, and as so many productions are now done in mock-up studios and on location where conversations are heard sotto-voce, it was odd to hear stage voices projecting during close-ups - a strange mix of studio intimacy and the remoteness of the live stage. Also, after seeing so much theater now filmed on location, I found the fixed Zen stage setting somewhat claustrophobic despite the clever scene changes. But this is all my subjective viewpoint. All in all the play moves at a brisk pace with wit and humour - Sheridan's genius - and I shall watch it again.

I saw a live version of the play recently and missed a lot of the dialogue because of the English accents and unfamiliarity of the script. So, I rented the dvd and totally enjoyed it. You might need to rewind here and there so that you can get a chance to understand the dialogue but it was very well done and fun. I highly recommend it.